Some days behind the camera are carefully planned. Others are so unexpected that if someone described them to you ahead of time, you’d probably think they were joking.
This was definitely one of those days.
At the time, I was working with Skudin Surf at American Dream, helping document everything happening at the wave pool. One of the most exciting parts of the program was the Dream Team, a group of young surfers who earned their place through competition. It wasn’t something you could simply sign up for. These kids worked hard to make the team, enjoyed special opportunities throughout the year, and then had to compete again to defend their spot the following season.
The Dream Team was designed to reward dedication, encourage growth, and give these young surfers experiences they would never forget.
Then someone came up with an idea that perfectly fit the spirit of American Dream.
What if Geoffrey the Giraffe from the Toys “R” Us store inside the mall learned how to surf?
Not just a quick appearance for a few photos. The plan was to create an entire experience. The Dream Team would visit Toys “R” Us, spend time with Geoffrey, shop through the store, and then bring everyone’s favorite giraffe over to Skudin Surf at American Dream for a surfing session. The whole day would be professionally filmed as a collaborative project between Toys “R” Us and Skudin Surf.
Toys “R” Us brought in their own production team to handle much of the filming, and I jumped in wherever they needed another camera. Once the action moved into the water, I focused on capturing the surfing from angles that could only be filmed from inside the wave pool.
Of course, there was one challenge.
Someone actually had to surf while wearing Geoffrey’s costume.
That responsibility fell to our own Paul Francisco, an accomplished surfer who was more than up for the challenge. Anyone who has ever seen the Geoffrey suit knows it wasn’t exactly designed for paddling into waves. Between the oversized giraffe head, limited visibility, and bulky costume, simply getting to the lineup would be a challenge.
Thankfully, Paul wasn’t doing it alone.
Two legends of the surf world, Will Skudin and Rob Kelly, were right there beside him. Together they helped guide Geoffrey out into the wave pool, making sure Paul safely reached the takeoff zone before it was time to let the giraffe do his thing.
Watching the three of them was surreal. Here were two of the most respected surfers in the world escorting Geoffrey the Giraffe into a wave so he could surf with a group of excited kids. It was one of those scenes that could only happen at Skudin Surf at American Dream.
Once Paul caught the wave, everything clicked. Geoffrey wasn’t just floating around for photos. He was actually surfing. The Dream Team erupted with excitement, cheering as everyone’s favorite toy store mascot carved across the water. It was equal parts hilarious, impressive, and unforgettable.
For me, the best view was from the water.
Being in the wave pool alongside Geoffrey allowed me to capture the excitement from a completely different perspective. Every wave, every laugh, every celebration from the Dream Team unfolded just a few feet away from my camera. Those are the moments you hope to capture as a photographer. They’re genuine, spontaneous, and impossible to recreate.
The Dream Team absolutely loved it.
For those kids, Geoffrey wasn’t just a character from a toy store. He became part of their surfing community for the day. It transformed what could have been a simple promotional event into a memory they’ll probably carry with them for years.
Looking back, it’s assignments like this that remind me why I love being behind a camera.
Over the years I’ve photographed elite athletes, adaptive surfers, celebrities, and incredible community events. Yet somehow, one of the stories that always makes people laugh starts with a simple sentence:
“I once spent the day filming Geoffrey the Giraffe surfing.”
It sounds unbelievable until you realize it happened at American Dream, where creativity has a way of turning unusual ideas into unforgettable experiences.
Sometimes the most memorable shoots aren’t the biggest productions or the highest profile events.
Sometimes they’re the ones where a world famous toy store mascot catches a wave, a group of kids gets the surprise of a lifetime, and everyone leaves with a story they’ll never forget.
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